Amid the flood situation in Bihar, there is hope for some relief as discharges from major rivers have reduced and stabilized.
Officials of the Disaster Management Department said that the state's major rivers Kosi and Sone have seen a declining trend in water discharge, while the Gandak River's discharge has remained stable. Amid this flood crisis, food has been distributed to more than 10 lakh affected people in the state in the morning and evening. The department is continuously monitoring the situation. Relief and rescue operations are underway in the affected areas with full vigilance.
According to the data, at 10 am on Tuesday, the discharge of Kosi at Veerpur barrage was recorded at 169,985 cusecs. Its emissions are decreasing. Similarly, the discharge of river Sone at Indrapuri barrage was recorded at 1,04,758 cusecs and the trend is also decreasing. Sulfur discharge at Valmikinagar barrage was recorded at 1,04,400 cusecs and the trend is stable. On the other hand, the water level of Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur was recorded at 36.80 m, which is 0.05 m higher than its previous highest flood level (36.75 m, 17.08.2021), but the trend is stable. However, Gandak, Kosi, Brohi Gandak, Ganga, Panpan, Bagmati and Ghaghra rivers are flowing above the danger mark at several other places. About 3.431 million people have been affected by the floods in 480 gram panchayats in 79 blocks of 13 districts: Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Monger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria and Arwal. 432 community kitchens are being run to facilitate the flood affected people and so far more than 1 million people have been provided with food. In addition, 14 relief camps have provided shelter, food and medical care to 12,294 flood refugees. Milk is being distributed to children and sanitary kits to women.
The department says that 1.29 million polythene sheets and 22,900 dry ration packets have been distributed to flood-affected people. Fodder for 3,142 quintal cattle has been distributed. 1,832 boats are being operated to facilitate transportation. 27 teams of SDRF and 10 teams of NDRF have been deployed in various districts for immediate rescue. Meanwhile, the state has recorded 601 mm of rainfall from June 1 to September 8, which is 27 percent below normal, according to the Met Department's forecast for rainfall in the state. However, so far in the month of September, it has rained 31 percent more than normal. In the next two days, light to moderate rain is expected at many places in the state and heavy rain at some places.